A business coach is drawing attention on TikTok after arguing that managers should not punish an entire team because one employee misuses workplace freedom.
The creator, who uses the name Zero Dollar Coach on TikTok, posted the video last week and had received more than 40,000 likes at the time of publication. Speaking directly to the camera while sitting outdoors, he described himself as a laid-back boss who prioritizes responsible employees and handles workplace problems individually.
He said he did not mind when employees arrived 15 minutes late, and that he did not always penalize them for using company supplies outside work or taking extended vacation time. Although he acknowledged that employees had abused each of those freedoms, he argued that individual incidents should not result in stricter rules for everyone.
Why managers should address employees individually
The coach’s central argument was that managers sometimes introduce company-wide policies because they do not want to confront the individual employee responsible for a problem.
He gave several examples. If one employee misuses their phone, a manager may create a new phone policy. If someone repeatedly leaves early on Fridays, the company might impose a stricter attendance rule. And if an employee treats the supply room like a personal hardware store, everyone could eventually face tighter restrictions.
The creator believed that companies “don’t have a policy problem, [but] a person problem.” He said, “When you take something away from everybody because one person abused it”, good employees may wonder why they are being punished for someone else’s actions.
@zerodollarcoaching I don’t care if you’re late. I care about not being a lazy boss. Most owners punish twenty good people because one guy named Mike couldn’t handle freedom. That’s not a policy problem. That’s a “you’re scared of a conversation” problem. Treat your ‘Nicoles’ like they deserve. Deal with your ‘Mikes’ directly. EQUALITY or FAIRNESS? Pick one. #BusinessOwner #RealTalk #Management ♬ original sound – Zero Dollar Coach
Equality versus fairness in the workplace
The video also addressed the difference between equality and fairness at work. The creator argued that a relaxed management style does not require every employee to receive identical treatment. Instead, responsible employees should receive more flexibility, while employees who repeatedly misuse that trust should face consequences.
“If you are responsible, I’ll give you freedom; if you abuse that freedom, I’ll deal with you,” he said. He added that continued misconduct could eventually lead to dismissal.
He rejected the idea that treating employees fairly necessarily means treating everyone in exactly the same way. “If 19 people can handle freedom and one person can’t, taking it away from all 20 isn’t fair,” he said.
Managers, he argued, should be willing to speak with individual employees rather than making everyone’s jobs more difficult.
